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Racial and social predictors of longitudinal cervical measures: the Cervical Ultrasound Study

Journal of Perinatology volume 37, pages 335–339 (2017)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate whether the racial and socioeconomic disparities are present in adverse cervical parameters, and, if so, when such disparities develop.

Study Design:

A prospective cohort study was conducted. 175 women with a prior preterm birth had up to four endovaginal ultrasounds between gestational weeks 16 and 24 (Cervical Ultrasound Trial of the MFMU). Each sociodemographic factor (race/ethnicity, marital status, insurance funding and education) was examined as a predictor of short cervix or U/funnel shape, using multiple logistic and linear regression. Changes in the cervical length and shape across pregnancy and after pressure were also examined.

Results:

The strongest associations were seen between race and government-funded insurance and short cervix and U shape per funneling (race and length <25 mm per funnel: adjusted odds ratio (OR) 5.52, 2.24 to 13.63; government-funded insurance and length <30 mm per funnel: adjusted OR 3.10, 1.34 to 7.15). Changes in cervical length were not associated with sociodemographics.

Conclusion:

African-American race and, to a lesser extent, insurance funder, are associated with cervical length and shapes that have been associated with preterm birth, and those properties are present largely early in pregnancy.

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Acknowledgements

The original 'The Mid-trimester Endovaginal Sonography in Women at High Risk for Spontaneous Preterm Delivery Study' study was conducted under the auspices of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit research network from 1997–1999. The Principal Investigator was Dr John Owen. The data were provided by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD Data and Specimen Hub (DASH) repository.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    E W Harville

  2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University School of Science and Engineering, New Orleans, LA, USA,

    K S Miller

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ochsner Clinic, New Orleans, LA, USA,

    L R Knoepp

Authors
  1. E W Harville
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  2. K S Miller
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  3. L R Knoepp
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Correspondence to E W Harville.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Journal of Perinatology website

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Harville, E., Miller, K. & Knoepp, L. Racial and social predictors of longitudinal cervical measures: the Cervical Ultrasound Study. J Perinatol 37, 335–339 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2016.240

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